Have you ever seen an upside-down pineapple at someone’s home and wondered what that was all about? Sure, pineapples can be a terrific addition to your tropical decor, however the upside-down pineapple means something a great deal sexier. For lots of, the meaning of pineapples is a celebration of warmth and hospitality. Turn the pineapple upside down, however, and you suddenly have the global symbol for swinging.
For many years, pineapples have been used as a way to honor guests in businesses, hotels, restaurants, and more. Pineapples were prominent in the 18th and 19th centuries when the hospitality industry utilized them as central parts of large food displays. Since then, they’ve also been used to embellish tapestries, napkins, and even pineapple-shaped string lights to set the tone at a summertime soiree.
In more recent years, however, pineapples have been utilized as symbols of swinging. No one knows specifically how this usage of pineapples became, but these days, seeing an upside-down pineapple is an indication that swingers are near.
This post isn’t a book report on pineapples, we promise. Pineapple has been cultivated in South America for centuries and was introduced to Europe at some point in the 17th century. It’s also an obscure fact that drinking pineapple juice makes bodily fluids taste sweeter when consumed regularly.
Pineapples are connected with wealth, luxury, nobility, hospitality, beauty, and royalty. In addition, being a distinct fruit, people love the playful attitude it brings as a design or decoration.
Swinger, as a term, is frequently associated with couples in the lifestyle. However, the term swinger can also mean “a stylish and lively person who goes to a lot of social events,” along with “a couple or individual who participates in group sex, wife swapping, or the swapping of sexual partners.”
As for how swinging began, Wikipedia suggests it was American military communities who started swapping partners during the 1950s. As time advanced, the Summer of Love and Swinging 70s ushered in a new era where “key parties” made partner swapping even more acceptable in sexually liberated circles.
Though nobody can say for sure how upside-down pineapples became the symbol for swinging, some believe it’s because pineapples have long been associated with inviting environments, warmth, and hospitality. The same significance is related to swinging and like-minded people who wish to welcome new partners into their lives, explore new relationships, and more. For many, the pineapple is turned upside down in swinger symbolism to help associate it with swinging rather than the common meaning pineapples generally have.
Some swingers wear pineapple print t-shirts to show their love of the lifestyle, while others do so just because they want to look like the fun person at the family luau. How you approach the conversation is important if you want to find out who is who. Asking, for example, whether the pineapples on someone’s shirt have significance can be a way to open a conversation. This is one of many reasons people tend to use upside-down pineapples instead of those that are right-side-up. If you’re wearing a pineapple print shirt with an upside-down pineapple, you’ll likely be identified as a person looking for a swinger party by other swingers. Tact in conversation is always necessary, though.
If you are at an event, on a cruise, or want others to know that you are open to swinging no matter where you are, the upside-down pineapple is the symbol that gets the message across. Placing an upside-down pineapple on your front door indicates that a swinger party is happening inside or that the people living in the house are interested in swinging. On a cruise, some people use upside-down pineapple magnets or symbols on their cabin door to signal that they are looking for a swinger party or that they already belong to one.
There are other swinger symbols to know about as well. For instance, pineapples on top of a mailbox or front porch can also represent a swinger party. Upside-down pineapples on clothing such as jewelry, shirts, and stockings may indicate that someone is looking for a swinger partner. Some people even use toe rings as a way to signal that they are swingers. In addition, some couples may swap their wedding rings from their left hand to their right hand as another way to indicate that they are swingers.
Other symbols include garden gnomes, pink flamingos, metal stars on the front of the home, and more. There are many ways that people can communicate that they are swingers, and many swinger couples use more than one symbol.
No one can say for sure how upside-down pineapples became the symbol for swinging, but some believe it is because pineapples have long been associated with warmth, hospitality, and welcoming environments. In swinger symbolism, the pineapple is turned upside down to associate it with swinging rather than its traditional meaning. If you wear a pineapple print shirt with an upside-down pineapple, other swingers will likely identify you as someone looking for a swinger party. Ultimately, placing an upside-down pineapple on your front door or wearing upside-down pineapple jewelry, shirts, or stockings can signal that you are interested in swinging.